Rings of Power's Stranger Revealed: Tolkien Professor Says No Canon

In the latest season of Amazon's The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, the identity of the Stranger has finally been revealed to be Gandalf. This revelation raises questions about the consistency of the show's narrative with the established lore from J.R.R. Tolkien's works, particularly concerning Gandalf's timeline in Middle-earth. Dr. Corey Olsen, known as 'The Tolkien Professor,' suggests that there isn't a definitive canon in Tolkien's universe because he continually re-evaluated and adjusted his world-building throughout his life. The showrunners seem to draw on this fluidity, proposing that Gandalf could have existed during the Second Age, aligning with Tolkien's later contemplations.

Gandalf's presence in the Second Age as depicted in The Rings of Power contrasts with Tolkien's original timeline established in The Lord of the Rings, where wizards arrived in the Third Age. However, Dr. Olsen indicates that Tolkien had considered altering the timeline, which allows for some creative freedom in the show's narrative.

The Rings of Power is a fantasy television series that explores the rich history of Middle-earth, set thousands of years before the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. The series has received mixed reactions from fans regarding its deviations from Tolkien's original text, prompting ongoing discussions about adaptations and interpretations of beloved literary works. As the story unfolds, viewers are left to speculate about the implications of Gandalf's role in the unfolding conflict against Sauron and what further adjustments the show might make in its narrative.